Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Preliminary Investigation: a Piper PA-28-140, N7099R, was substantially damaged after colliding with a residential road sign following a partial loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing near El Cajon, California.

NTSB Identification: WPR15LA164
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, May 16, 2015 in El Cajon, CA
Aircraft: PIPER PA28 - 140, registration: N7099R
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
 
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On May 16, 2015, about 1020 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N7099R, was substantially damaged after colliding with a residential road sign following a partial loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing near El Cajon, California. The certified private pilot and his sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was being operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed. The personal cross-country flight departed Tucson, Arizona about 0640 mountain standard time, with the reported destination being Montgomery Field (MYF), San Diego, California.

In a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported the while en route and approaching the destination airport (MYF), the engine began to run rough. The pilot stated that he applied carburetor heat, which resulted in an initial increase in power, however, the engine was only producing between 1,500 to 1,600 rpm. The pilot opined that with insufficient power to make a closer airport, he elected to make a forced landing to a residential street. During the landing roll the airplane's left wing was substantially damaged after colliding with a road sign.

The airplane was recovered to a secured location for further examination.